Primer Question

[Person]

I am still researching reloading and figuring out what I am going to buy. One of the things I am a little confused on is primers for .357 magnum. I plan on starting out reloading with .38 special and .357 magnum. So I am going to order small pistol primers for my .38 special reloads.

Do I get the same for .357 magnum or do I get magnum primers? From what I have read it can go either way but I guess what I am asking for someone just starting out doing by the book loads which should I use?

Also if you have any sources for some .38 special and .357 loads that you would recomend for plinking it would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Person

 

[OKFC05]

The kind of primers you use in .357 can be different with different kinds of powder. For true magnum loads with slow powder like 296, use magnum primers. When in doubt RTFM (read and follow a reloading manual).
Hodgdon has many excellent .38 and .357 loads in its online manual.
http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

 

[Person]

Great site! Thanks.

 

[epj]

Since primers are currently so difficult to come by, and expensive, I would suggest starting with the regular SP primers. They will take care of your .38's and a lot of the .357's. As noted, some of the slower powders will benefit from the mag primers, but I'd get a bit of experience with mid range loads before pushing the envelope too hard. If by some chance the mag primers are all you can find, they will work for either, but loads need to be reduced just a tad. How much is a tad? In most cases 1-2 tenths grain. This will depend a lot on the particular powder/ bullet/case combo. If you are not working at or near max load levels, you can probably just substitute the mag primers and not worry about it.

 

[nitesite]

Every load manual that I own specifies a magnum primer for certain powders with certain cartridge load recipies. For other powders, the suggested primer is standard. Study your manual carefully and everything will be much clearer to you.

Just because the cartridge says Magnum does not mean a magnum primer is necessary.

 

[fredj338]

There are very few powders that require a mag primer in the 357magnum. H110/W296 & AA#9 are the only two I can think of the NEED one. That being said, if all you can find are mag primers, they will work in 357mag or 38sp, you may need to adjust your powder charge down a bit, but it will be powder/load specific.

 

[Person]

That clears things up for me. Thanks for all the info!

After doing a lot more reading I realize my second question about good .38 special and .357 loads for plinking is kind of an incomplete question since I did not mention what I would be shooting them out of.

I will mainly be shooting them both out of a Model 66-0 and also my Marlin 1894cs rifle. In a perfect world I would like to find a good plinking load that works in both of those but I realize that may not be possible.

Thanks again,

Person

 

[Amici]

Note that small rifle and small pistol primers are the same size, UNLIKE large rifle and large pistol primers.

This means you can use SR primers in your .38/.357 loads IF you are responsible, prudent and work your loads up accordingly.

I no longer bother with SP primers and sold the last brick I had to a fellow shooter in need of pistol primers. I certainly didn't need them.

 

[sunday bill]

Person, There are many loads that can serve as accurate "plinking" loads in both your handgun and your Marlin. My wife and I own five Marlin '94s chambered in .357, including one CS. 38 Spec brass runs slick'er'n a minner in all of them when I seat a 158 gr. Round Nose Flat Point cast bullet out to an over-all cartridge length of 1.51". Since these loads also work well in our handguns, I load all our 38 Spec 158 gr RNFP loads to this length.

If bullets are seated out like I ref. above, extra air space is created within the case. Trail Boss powder does a good job of eating up that space, resulting in a safe, accurate load. Some folks use TB in various pistol caliber cases, especially on progressive presses, since its bulk prevents the possibility of double charging a case.

Powder charges from the manuals are well-researched and proven. Stick to'em!

Rich

 

[TSQUARED]

I am still researching reloading and figuring out what I am going to buy. One of the things I am a little confused on is primers for .357 magnum. I plan on starting out reloading with .38 special and .357 magnum. So I am going to order small pistol primers for my .38 special reloads.

Do I get the same for .357 magnum or do I get magnum primers? From what I have read it can go either way but I guess what I am asking for someone just starting out doing by the book loads which should I use?

Also if you have any sources for some .38 special and .357 loads that you would recomend for plinking it would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Person

For light loads with fast burning approximating 38 Special velocities in 357 Magnum cases I use the standard small pistol primers. If you plan to use heavy loads with slow powders such as W-296, Alliant 2400 or IMR-4227 then the small pistol magnum primers would improve ignition.

 

[Skip Sackett]

There are times when you can load 38spl loads in 357mag cases, never reverse that!

Like has been stated, the primer is related to powder type used more than caliber. You can use standard primers with most powders in 357mag and get true magnum performance.

The best advice here is by OKFC. Look at the manual and read the recipe. Remember, it's a recipe. All parts of it need to be adhered to EXACTLY to get similar results. Change just ONE component and you need to start over. The primer is PART of the recipe. It is an important part. Change it, brands or type, and you need to start low and work up again.

Here is what I would do. Find out what is available locally, use them. If both are, use standard ones for everything right now, again, depending on powder.

What powder do you have? W231/HP-38? Bullseye?

Let us know, and we can help you better.

 

[Person]

Thanks again for all the info guys.

Smith Crazy - I do not have any powder yet. I am still just in my research faze and ordering my reloading equipment.

All the responses really started to fill in some info I would never have though about.

Thanks,

Person

 

[Herb686]

Std. Vs Mag.

FYI, my 4" 686 (used for IDPA at 125,000 power factor) has had an action job and requires Federal primers to get 100% reliable ignition. After running out of Std. primers and couldn't get any more, I bought 5000 Fed. Magnum primers. With the same load of 158 Gr. LRN and 3.8 Bullseye, I got 20 fps increase in velocity and 100% ignition. Federal stated that the cup is thicker on the Magnum primers. No adverse conditions noted.

 

[nonferrous]

Primer question

When Small Rifle primers are used in .38 and .357 loads to replace either SP or SP Magnum How should they be rated?

Do they have the approximate brisance of a SP magnum, or somewhat more?

I am using SP Magnum primers for .38 spl now and I simply cut back 3/10's gr from max load with Clays. No problems, perfect ignition and clean.

Thanks